In all the LGBT community dialogue in which I participate and observe, immigration reform is never one of the "big" issues at the federal level. Usually those most talked about include hate crimes, ENDA, DOMA, DADT, and HIV/AIDS policy.
Why is that? I think it's because with the exception of HIV/AIDS, all of those policies specifically discriminate against LGBT people. Federal employment non-discrimination laws, for example, protect lots of categories of people- race, religion, sex, and so forth. Sexual orientation and gender identity are specifically excluded, so this is an "LGBT" issue.
Contrast that with immigration reform. After the Uniting American Families Act provision wasn't included in the bill as introduced (which would allow same-sex binational couples to have the same access to immigration benefits that heterosexual couples do), I can't tell you how many people commented to me that this bill was now "worthless" and "why should LGBT activists be there for immigration folks if they aren't there for us?
How I define an LGBT issue (Open Left)
Posted by
ATLdave 771 days ago
(http://www.openleft.com)
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Promoting public awareness of the need for fairness in immigration policy particularly as it relates to the rights of same-sex bi-national couples in the United States who seek equal immigration rights; Providing information regarding political issues relating to gay immigration equality issues, rights and policy.
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770 days ago
I would offer that in order to be a "big" issue it has to be a topic that everyone in the LGBT community is affected by or is passionate about and at this point I am only seeing it affecting a small segment of the LGBT community. How would you view this issue differently so as to get 'everyone' involved?